Method and apparatus for removing a flaccid article from a support surface

ABSTRACT

Method and apparatus for removing a stocking or the like from a support surface (i.e., conveyor) on which the stocking is positioned with an end portion thereof hanging from the edge of the support surface, including a pair of clamping elements and an operating arrangement therefor which initially disposes them at an open position with the hanging portion of the stocking located therebetween, then closes the clamping elements to grasp the hanging portion, then moves the clamping elements generally horizontally so as to pull the stocking off the support surface, then opens the clamping elements to release the stocking, and then returns the clamping elements to their initial position. Preferably, the clamping elements are disposed vertically to receive and grasp the stocking, and are moved to an inclined disposition when the stocking is released, the inclination being in a direction to cause the stocking to slide from between the open clamping elements. Also, the clamping elements are preferably moved from the support surface with sufficient speed to maintain the lengthwise extent of the stocking in a horizontal plane whereby the extended stocking can be collected in a receiver located beneath the path of movement of the clamping elements.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Leslie Starbuck Nottingham; Arthur F. Whymark, Loughborough, England [2]] Appl. No. 851,222 [22] Filed Aug. 19, 1969 [45] Patented May 25, 1971 [73] Assignee Speizman Industries, Inc.

Charlotte, N.C.

[54] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING A FLACCID ARTICLE FROM A SUPPORT SURFACE 21 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 209/74, 198/20, 271/1, 271/85 [51] Int. Cl 1307c 3/06 [50] Field of Search 209/82, 74;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,331,506 7/1967 Smith 209/82X 3,353,726 11/1967 Kronsbein 27l/lX Primary Examiner-Richard A. Schacher AttorneysChanning L. Richards, Dalbert U. Shefte, Francis M. Pinckney and Richards and Shefte ABSTRACT: Method and apparatus for removing a stocking or the like from a support surface (i.e., conveyor) on which the stocking is positioned with an end portion thereof hanging from the edge of the support surface, including a pair of clamping elements and an operating arrangement therefor which initially disposes them at an open position with the hanging portion of the stocking located therebetween, then closes the clamping elements to grasp the hanging portion, then moves the clamping elements generally horizontally so as to pull the stocking off the support surface, then opens the clamping elements to release the stocking, and then returns the clamping elements to their initial position. Preferably, the clamping elements are disposed vertically to receive and grasp the stocking, and are moved to an inclined disposition when the stocking is released, the inclination being in a direction to cause the stocking to slide from between the open clamping elements. Also, the clamping elements are preferably moved from the support surface with sufficient speed to maintain the lengthwise extent of the stocking in a horizontal plane whereby the extended stocking can be collected in a receiver located beneath the path of movement of the clamping elements.

PATENTED W2 51% sum 1 0F 4 INVENTORS LESLIE STARBUCK 5 BY ARTHUR F. wnvmmx m oJ-A b SH-C.

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INVENTORS LESLIE- STARBUCK 6 BY ARTHUR F. WHYMARK ATTOR N METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING A FLACCID ARTICLE FROM A SUPPORT SURFACE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to handling of articles and more particularly to a method and apparatus for removing a flaccid article from a support surface.

By nature, flaccid articles, such as stockings and other fabric articles, are difficult to handle, particularly in removing them from a support surface for transfer to another location. For example, in sorting fabric articles such as stockings according to size, the articles are laid out on a support surface for measurement and are then removed from the support surface to a location at which stockings of the measured size are collected. Conventionally, the handling of stockings in such a sorting operation is usually accomplished manually; however, some efforts have.been made to develop suitable automatic sorting equipment that is capable of reducing labor requirements and increasing production rates. An example of an automatic stocking sorting machine is disclosed in Milliken US. Pat. No. 2,853,188, issued Sept. 23, .1958, for Sorting Machines. This prior art machine utilizes a conveyor on which stockings are placed for automatic size sensing and discharge according to size. The conveyor consists of a plurality of trays on which the stockings are laid out for automatic size sensing, each of the trays being arranged for pivotal movement which causes the stockings thereon to be slidably discharged into bins according to size. The use of trays and the arrangement for selective pivoting of the trays results in a complicated and expensive mechanism, and the sliding movement imparted to the fully laid out or extended stockings by the tilting of the trays results in a collapse of the individual stockings as they reach the bins whereby the stockings are not arranged in a neat stack for subsequent collection.

ln contrast, the method and apparatus for removing a flaccid article from a support surface according to the present in-' vention does not require the use of support trays, but rather can be adapted to use with various types of support surfaces including a simple conveyor web, and provides a reliable and efficient manner of removal that results in a transfer of the ar ticle in its laid-out condition to a suitable collection location.

Other examples of stocking removing mechanisms used in automatic sorting machines are disclosed in Kronsbein US. Pat. No. 3,206,023, issued Sept. 14, 1965, for Apparatus for Use in Connection with the Processing of Stockings, Knitted Goods and the Like; and Smith et al. US. Pat. No, 3,331,506, issued July 18, 1967, for Hosiery Finishing and Sorting Range, both of which disclose the use of clamps for removing stockings from forms for transfer to collection locations according to size as determined by a measurement made while the stockings were on the forms. These clamps are specifically adapted toremove stockings from forms by clamping at opposite sides of the forms and then sliding off the ends of the forms with the stockings clamped therebetween, and would not be readily applicable to use with any support members other than forms. In contrast, the present invention functions by clamping an end of an article hanging from a support surface and then pulling the article from the surface by advancing the clamped hanging end, whereby no special fonn of support surface or special relationship between the clamping elements and the support surface is required.

SUMMARY OF THE lNVENTlON According to the present invention, a pair of clamping elements are provided which are initially disposed at an open position to receive therebetween the handing portion of a flaccid article which is otherwise supported on a support surface such as a conveyor, and an operating arrangement is provided which acts sequentially to close the clamping elements to grasp the hanging portion of the article therebetween, then to move the clamping elements in a direction which causes the article to be pulled off the support surface, then to open the clamping elements and allow the article to fall therefrom, and, finally, to return the clamping elements to their initial open position.

in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the flaccid article is a stocking which is positioned on a horizontally moving conveyor belt for extension from the edge of the conveyor belt, and the clamping elements are moved away from the conveyor belt in a generally horizontal direction whereby the stocking is pulled away from the conveyor belt in the lengthwise direction of the stocking; and the speed of travel of the clamping elements during this movement thereof is sufficient to maintain the lengthwise extent of the stocking in a generally horizontal plane as it is pulled from the conveyor belt and until the stocking is released. Additionally, the clamping surfaces of the clamping elements are disposed vertically at the initial open position of the clamping elements to facilitate positive engagement with the vertically hanging portion of the stocking when the clamping elements are closed, and then these clamping surfaces are altered to assume a generally horizontal disposition as the stocking is being pulled from the conveyor and to assume an inclined disposition during opening of the clamping elements to release the stocking, this inclination of the clamping surfaces being in a direction to cause the previously engaged portion of the stocking to slide from between the open clamping elements. To collect the stockings which have been removed from the conveyor, a large bin or other suitable receiver is located directly beneath the path of horizontal movement of the clamping elements, and this bin is dimensioned to accommodate the lengthwise extended stocking upon release thereof by the clamping elements whereby the stockings will be collected by laying them out in a fully extended position to form relatively neat stacks in the bins.

To operate the clamping elements in the aforementioned manner, the present invention provides a carriage member having a mounting block to which one of the clamping elements is rigidly fixed, and the other clamping element is mounted on the mounting block for movement to and from the stationary clamping member, the movable clamping element being associated with a spring which normally urges it toward the stationary clamping element. The carriage member is arranged to have a reciprocating movement along a horizontal path to and from the conveyor, and the mounting block is arranged for movement about a pivot axis extending transverse to the carriage member path of movement.

A projecting arm is formed integrally with the movable clamping element and extends from the mounting block, and first and second stops are provided adjacent the ends of the carriage member path of movement for abutment with the projecting arm. The mounting block normally assumes a first position at which the clamping surfaces of the clamping elements are disposed horizontally, and at which the projecting arm extends upwardly. As the carriage member approaches the conveyor end of its path of movement, the projecting arm strikes the stop thereat which causes pivoting of the mounting block to a second position at which the clamping surfaces are opened and disposed vertically to receive the hanging stocking portion therebetween. As the carriage member starts to move away from the conveyor, the stop maintains contact with the projecting arm until the movable clamping element is biased into engagement with the stationary clamping element to grasp the hanging portion of the stocking therebetween, after which the projecting arm breaks contact with the stop and the mounting block pivots to its normal position with the clamping surfaces disposed horizontally. As the carriage member continues to move away from the conveyor, the stocking is pulled from the conveyor and carried horizontally until the now upwardly extending projecting arm strikes the stop at the end of the carriage member path of movement whereupon the mounting block is caused to pivot slightly and open the clamping elements to release the stocking, the slight pivoting of the mounting block acting to dispose the clamping surfaces at the aforementioned inclination which causes the stocking to slide therefrom. The carriage member is then returned to its initial position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating stocking sorting equipment which includes stocking removing apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a right side elevation view of the equipment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a left side elevational view of the stocking removing apparatus at one removal station;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the stocking removing apparatus shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an end view of the stocking removing apparatus shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the carriage-member associated with the stocking removing apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged elevational view of a part of the stocking removing apparatus illustrating the clamping elements in the initial open position thereof;

FIG. 8 is a view corresponding to FIG. 7 and illustrating the clamping elements after a stocking has been released thereby; and

FIG. 9 is a detail plan view of the clamping elements in the initial open position thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Looking now in detail at the accompanying drawings, FIGS. 11 and 2 illustrate equipment for automatically sorting stockings according to length, such equipment generally including a conveyor assembly for transporting stockings, sensing heads 22 at stations spaced along the conveyor assembly 20 for sensing the lengths of the transported stockings, and stocking removing apparatus 24 located at one side of the conveyor assembly 20 adjacent each of the sensing stations for selectively removing stockings from the conveyor assembly 20 in response to appropriate signals from the sensing heads 22.

The conveyor assembly 20 includes a support frame 26 having an endless conveyor belt 28 extending around an idler roller 30 and a drive roller 32 driven through a chain 34 by an electric motor 36, the lower reach of the conveyor belt 28 being supported on a plurality of rollers 38. Looking at the left-hand end of the conveyor belt 28 in FIG. 1, it will be noted that slots and holes 42 are formed in the conveyor belt 28 at evenly spaced locations therealong for a purpose to be described in greater detail presently, similar slots and holes in the conveyor not being visible in FIG. 1 because they are beneath the sensing heads 22.

The sensing heads 22 are mounted at one side of the conveyor assembly 20 to extend over the conveyor belt 28 as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. These sensing heads 22 and the details of the sensing arrangement in general form no part of the present invention, and a more complete explanation of the operation thereof may be found in U.S. application Ser. No. 851,313, filed Aug. 19, 1969. For purposes of the present description, it is sufficient to. summarize the operation of the conveyor assembly 20 and the sensing heads 22 by pointing out that stockings are manually laid out on the conveyor belt 28 at the right-hand end thereof so that the welt portion of the stocking hangs from an edge 28 of the conveyor belt 28 (see FIG. 7) and the remainder of the stocking extends lengthwise from the edge 28 across the conveyor belt 28 to cover a portion of the slots 40, the extent of this covering depending upon the length of the individual stocking. The conveyor belt 28 is driven intermittently so that it advances a predetermined distance to the left in FIG. 1 as indicated by the direction arrow, this predetermined distance corresponding to the center spacing between the sensing heads 22 (i.e., 15 inches). When the conveyor belt 28 stops, another stocking is placed thereon by the operator, and the sensing heads 22 at each of the ten stations shown are automatically energized to sense the length of the stocking therebeneath in a manner described in greater detail in the aforementioned U.S. APPLICATION Ser. No. 851,313.

If the length of the stocking is within-the range for which a particular sensing head 22 is set, the sensing head produces an output signal which is transmitted to the corresponding stocking removing apparatus 24 located directly across the conveyor belt 28 therefrom whereupon this stocking removing apparatus 24 is energized to remove the stocking immediately from the conveyor belt 28 as will be described in greater detail presently. Following a sufficient time delay to permit this sensing and, if necessary, removal of the stockings, the cycle is automatically started again to advance the conveyor belt 28 the aforementioned predetermined distance for subsequent sensing of the stockings remaining on the conveyor belt 28.

Since the stocking removal apparatus 24 at each of the ten sensing stations is identical in construction and operation, it is only necessary to describe one of them in detail. As best seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the stocking removing apparatus includes a support frame 44 on which is mounted a pair of spaced endless chains 46, each of which extends around a pair of sprockets 48, 50 rotatably carried at the respective ends of the support frame 44 with the lower reach of each chain 46 passing over an idler sprocket 52 and around a drive sprocket 54. The drive sprockets S4 for each of the chains 46 are fitted on the respective end portions of a common shaft 56 that is journaled in the support frame 44 and that is additionally fitted with a pinion 58 located between the drive sprockets 54 and in mesh with a rack 60. The rack 60 is slidably carried on the support frame 44 for horizontal movement with respect thereto, and it is connected to a reciprocating piston rod 62 extending from a fluid motor 64 fixed to the support frame 44. To control the fluid motor 64, a conventional reversing valve assembly 66 is provided which includes a main inlet line 68 connected to a suitable source of pressurized fluid (i.e., an air compressor), a pair of connecting lines 70, 72 leading, respectively, to the opposite ends of the fluid motor 64, and a pair of exhaust lines 74. The reversing valve assembly 66 is also provided with an operating lever 76 pivoted at 78 and including a roller 80 carried at the extending end thereof, and the rack 60 is provided with a lug 82 formed with a camming surface 84 that strikes the roller 80 to cause clockwise pivoting of the lever 76 (FIG. 4) when the rack 60 is moved by the fluid motor 64 to its extreme right-hand position, this pivoting of the lever 76 depressing an electrical switch 86 on the reversing valve assembly 66 to reverse the fluid flow to the fluid motor 64, all as will be described in greater detail in connection with the overall operation of the stocking removing apparatus 24.

As best seen in FIGS. 6 to 9, a carriage member 88 is provided which includes attachment blocks 90 secured, respectively, to the upper reaches of the chains 46, and a bar 92 mounted endwise in the attachment blocks 90 and held against rotation therein by screws 94. A mounting block 96 is carried on the bar 92 for rotational shifting with respect thereto, and it is normally disposed in the position shown in FIG. 6 as a result of the bias imposed thereon by a pair of torsion springs 98 acting against stops 1100 on the mounting block 96 and anchored in collars 102 secured to the bar 92 by screws 104. A stationary clamping element 106 is rigidly secured to the mounting block 96, and a movable clamping element 108 is slidably carried on the mounting block 96 by a pair of bolts 110, with associated washers 1112, that extend through a slot 114 in the movable clamping element 108. The stationary clamping element 106 includes a fixed plate 116 having a curved end portion 118, this curved end portion 1118 serving to guide a moving stocking portion as it slides thereon to a position for clamping by the generally flat clamping surface 120 near the center of the fixed plate 116. The movable clamping element 108 includes a clamping portion 122 preferably having a plastic cover 1124 fitted thereon to provide a relatively soft, smooth and generally flat clamping surface 126 for cooperating with the clamping surface 120 on the fixed clamping element 106. Also, the movable clamping element 108 is urged in a direction toward the fixed clamping element 106 to close the respective clamping surfaces 128, 126 by a compression spring 1128 bottomed against the mounting block 96 and acting against a plate element 130 welded to and projecting from the movable clamping element 108.

The movable clamping element 108 has a projecting arm 132 formed integrally therewith which includes a straight portion 134 that extends away from the mounting block 96 and upwardly therefrom when the mounting block 96 is in its normal transporting position as seen in FIG. 6. The projecting arm 132 also includes an end portion 136 extending generally perpendicularly in opposite directions from the straight portion 134, and having a curvature, the center of which lies along the straight portion 134 whereby the lower surface of the end portion 136 in FIG. 6 has a concave configuration.

A first stop element 138 is mounted in a fixed position on the support frame 44 at the end thereof adjacent the conveyor belt 28, and asecond stop element 140 is likewise mounted on the support frame 44 at the end thereof spaced from the conveyor belt 28 as best seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. The support frame 44 also has a removable bin or receiver 142 located directly beneath the path of movement of carriage member 88, this receiver 142 being dimensioned to accommodate a stocking which is fully extended lengthwise.

The operation of the stocking removing apparatus 24 of the present invention is as follows. When the conveyor assembly 20 is first energized, the carriage member 88 of each stocking removing apparatus 24 is located at the end thereof adjacent the conveyor assembly 20. At this position of the carriage member 88, the clamping elements 106 and 108, as best seen in FIG. 7, are initially disposed at an open position. The intermittent movement of the conveyor belt 28 results in the hanging portion P of each stocking progressively passing to stopped positions between the clamping elements 106 and 108 during sensing by a corresponding sensing head 22. If the length of a stocking is not within the preset range of the sensing head 22, the corresponding stocking removal apparatus 24 remains inactive and the hanging portion P will simply pass through the open clamping elements 106 and 108 upon subsequent movement of the conveyor belt 28. When, however, the length of the sensed stocking is within the preset range of the sensing head 22, a signal is sent to the corresponding stocking removal apparatus 24, as previously described. This signal is received by the reversing valve assembly 66 of the stocking removal apparatus 24 and operates the same to connect the main inlet line 68 with the left-hand end of the fluid motor 64 (FIG. 4) through connecting line 72 while also connecting the righthand end of the fluid motor 64 to one of the exhaust lines 74 through connecting line 70.

This pressurized fluid acts to move the piston rod 62 and rack 60 to the left in FIG. 3 thereby turning the pinion 58 and causing the upper reaches of the chains 46 to be moved to the left in FIG. 3. Looking, then, at FIG. 7, the carriage member 88 is moved to the left, or away from the conveyor belt 28. During initial leftward movement of the carriage member 88, the stationary clamping element 106 is carried with the carriage member 88 to the left, but the spring 108 has sufficient force to maintain the curved end portion 136 of the projecting arm 132 in contact with the stop element 138 and permit the carriage member 88 to move relatively with respect to the movable clamping element 108 until the bolts 110 reach the end of the slot 114 (see FIG. 6) whereby the respective clamping surfaces 120 and 122 are closed to grasp the stocking portion P therebetween. It will be noted that during this initial movement of the carriage member 88, the curvature of the end portion 136 ensures a positive hold between the stop element 138 and the projecting arm 132 so as to prevent pivoting movement of the mounting block 96 about the bar 92 and thereby maintain the clamping surfaces 120, 122 at a vertical disposition during closing thereof.

Continued leftward movement of the carriage member 88, with the stocking portion P securely held between the clamping elements 106 and 108, results in the projecting arm 132 moving away from the stop element 138 whereupon the weight of the clamping elements 106, I08 and the torsion springs 98 will cause the mounting block 96 to pivot about bar 92 from its FIG. 7 position to its FIG. 6 position at which the clamping surfaces 120, 122 are horizontally disposed, the torsion springs 98 also serving to stabilize the final position of the mounting block 96 by dampening any oscillating tendencies thereof about the bar 92. As the carriage member 88 continues to move along its horizontal path, the stocking is pulled from the conveyor belt 28 by the clamping elements 106, 108. Preferably, the drive for the chains 46 is such that the speed of travel of the carriage member 88 during this horizontal movement is sufficient to maintain the lengthwise extent of the stocking in a generally horizontal plane as it is removed from the conveyor belt 28.

When the carriage member 88 has traveled a distance which ensures that the stocking has been completely removed from the conveyor belt 28, the straight portion 134 of the upwardly projecting arm 132 comes into abutment with the second stop element 140 which causes pivoting of the mounting block 96 about the bar 92 in a clockwise direction until the clamping surfaces 120, 122 are disposed at an inclined position. Further leftward movement of the carriage member 88 results in the stop element 140 contacting the end portion 136 of the projecting arm 132 to move the movable clamping element 108 against the bias of spring 128 and open the clamping surfaces 120, 122 to release the stocking portion P as shown in FIG. 8. It will be noted that when the clamping surfaces 120, 122 are opened, the inclination thereof is in a direction to cause the previously engaged stocking portion P to slide easily from between the clamping surfaces 120, 122. Since, as previously mentioned, the pulling action on the stocking maintains it extended in a horizontal plane, the release of the stocking portion P allows the stocking to fall into the receiver 142 in this extended disposition whereby a quantity of stockings can be readily collected in the receiver 142 in a neat stack for subsequent collection.

The lug attached to the rack 60 (FIGS. 3 and 4) is positioned so that the camming surface 82 thereof will contact the roller 80 on the operating lever 76 and pivot the latter to actuate the switch 86 and thereby operate the reversing valve assembly 66 to connect the main inlet line 68 with the righthand end of the fluid motor 64 (FIG. 4) through connecting line 70, while connecting the left-hand end of the fluid motor 64 to one of the exhaust lines 74. The piston rod 62 and rack 60 are then caused to reverse their direction of movement so as to cause the carriage member 88 to be moved back to the right by the chains 46. During the initial phase of this rightward movement, the projecting arm 132 moves out of contact with the stop element 140 and the mounting block 96 again assumes its FIG. 6 position as it continues to move to the right.

As the carriage member 88 approaches the end of its path of travel adjacent the conveyor belt 28, the first stop element 138 comes into abutment, first with the straight portion 134 of the projecting arm 132 to initiate counterclockwise pivoting of the mounting block 96 and, ultimately, with the curved end portion 136 of the projecting arm 132 to cause continued pivoting of the mounting block 96 until the straight portion 134 of the projecting arm 132 rests on a stationary positioning bar 144 extending between the attachment blocks 90 (FIG. 6) and to cause movement of the movable clamping element 108 with respect to the mounting block 96 whereby the clamping elements 106, 108 are returned to their initial open position as shown in FIG. 7. It should be noted that the time required for the carriage member 88 to move from its initial position to pull the stocking from the conveyor belt 28 and release it and then return to its initial position, is less than the time required for the next stocking on the conveyor belt 28 to have been moved to a position between the clamping elements 106, 108. Also, the positioning bar 144 serves to positively locate the mounting block 96 so that the clamping surfaces 120, 122 are vertically disposed at the initial position (FIG. 7) thereof whereby the next stocking portion P can pass to a position between these clamping surfaces 120, 122 as the conveyor belt 28 moves, the curved end portion 118 of the fixed plate 1H6 on the clamping element 106 also assisting in locating the stocking portion P between the clamping surfaces 120, 122.

The present invention has been described in detail above for purposes of illustration only and is not intended to be limited by this description or otherwise to exclude any variation or equivalent arrangement that would be apparent from, or reasonably suggested by, the foregoing disclosure to the skill of the art.

lclaim:

1. Apparatus for removing a flaccid article, such as a stocking or the like, from a support surface on which said arti cle is positioned with a portion thereof hanging from an edge of said support surface, said apparatus including at least two cooperating clamping elements initially disposed at an open position for receiving said hanging article in spaced relation therebetween, and operating means for said clamping elements acting sequentially to close said clamping elements for grasping said hanging article portion therebetween, to move said clamping elements in a direction which causes said article to be pulled off said support surface, to open said clamping elements for allowing said article to fall therefrom, and to return said clamping elements to said initial open position.

2. Apparatus for removing a fiaceid article as defined in claim 1 and further characterized in that said support surface has a horizontal extent, in that the major part of said article is positioned on said support surface for extension from said support surface edge, and in that said operating means acts to move said clamping elements in a substantially horizontal direction in pulling said article from said support surface.

3. Apparatus for removing a flaccid article as defined in claim 2 and further characterized in that said article is a stocking extending lengthwise from said support surface edge, and said operating means acts to pull said stocking from said support surface in the lengthwise direction of said stocking.

4. Apparatus for removing a flaccid article as defined in claim 2 and further characterized in that said clamping elements each include a generally flat clamping surface, in that said flat clamping surfaces are disposed vertically at said initial 'open position of said clamping elements, and in that said Operating means acts to maintain said clamping surfaces at said vertical disposition during said closing of said clamping elements and to position said clamping surfaces at a generally horizontal disposition during said movement of said clamping elements in said generally horizontal direction.

5'. Apparatus for removing a flaccid article as defined in claim 2 and further characterized in that said clamping elements each include a generally flat clamping surface, in that said flat clamping surfaces are disposed vertically at said initial open position of said clamping elements, and in that said operating means acts to maintain said clamping surfaces at said vertical disposition during said closing of said clamping elements and to alter the position of said clamping surfaces to an inclined position during said opening of said clamping elements, the inclination of said clamping surfaces being in a direction to cause the previously engaged portion of said article to slide from between said open clamping elements.

6. Apparatus for removing a flaccid article as defined in claim 2 and further characterized in that the speed of travel of said clamping elements moving in said generally horizontal direction is sufficient to maintain the lengthwise extent of said article in a generally horizontal plane as it is removed from said support surface and until said article is released.

7. Apparatus for removing a flaccid article as defined in claim 6 and further characterized in that a receiver is located directly beneath the path of horizontal movement of said clamping elements, said receiver being dimensioned to accommodate said lengthwise extended article upon release thereof by said clamping elements.

' 8. Apparatus for removing a flaccid article as defined in claim l and further characterized in that said operating means acts to cause said clamping elements to move in a generally arcuate path as they return to said initial position thereof.

9. Apparatus for removing a flaccid article as defined in claim 1 and further characterized in that said support surface comprises a movable horizontally extending conveyor belt, in that a plurality of stockings are positioned in longitudinally spaced relation on said conveyor belt to extend transversely thereacross, each of said stockings having a corresponding portion thereof depending from a side edge of said conveyor belt in a common plane, and in that said apparatus includes a plurality of said cooperating clamping element pairs and associated operating means therefor longitudinally spaced along said side of said conveyor belt, each of said operating means being selectively operable to cause its associated pair of clamping elements to engage and remove selected stockings from said movable conveyor belt.

10. Apparatus for removing a flaccid article as defined in claim 1 and further characterized in that said operating means includes a carriage member and means for reciprocating said carriage member to and from said support surface along a generally horizontal path of movement, in that said carriage member includes a mounting block having one of said clamping elements rigidly secured thereto and the other of said clamping elements connected thereto for movement to and from said one clamping element during said opening and closing of said clamping elements, in that biasing means are provided to act on said other clamping element to urge the same toward said one clamping element, and in that said operating means includes actuating means for moving said other clamping element against said biasing means to open said clamping elements as said carriage member reaches the respective ends of said path of movement thereof.

11. Apparatus for removing a flaccid article as defined in claim 10 and further characterized in that said clamping elements each include a generally flat clamping surface, in that said mounting block is pivotally carried on said carriage member for movement about a pivot axis extending transverse to said carriage member path of movement, said mounting block having a normal first position at which said respective clamping surfaces are disposed horizontally, and in that said actuating means causes pivoting of said mounting block to a second position at which said clamping surfaces are disposed vertically when said carriage member reaches the end of said path of movement thereof adjacent said support surface.

12. Apparatus for removing a flaccid article as defined in claim Ill and. further characterized in that said actuating means causes pivoting of said mounting block from said first position thereof to a third position at which said respective clamping surfaces are disposed at an inclination when said carriage member reaches the end of said path of movement thereof spaced from said support surface, said inclination being in a direction to cause the previously held engaged portion of said stocking to slide from between the open clamping elements.

13. Apparatus for removing a flaccid article as defined in claim 12 and further characterized in that said actuating means includes a projecting arm having a straight portion formed integrally with said other clamping element to extend upwardly from said mounting block in said first position thereof and having an end portion extending generally perpendicularly in opposite directions from said straight portion, and in that said actuating means includes abutment means located at the ends of said carriage member path of mounting movement for contacting said projecting arm to cause said pivoting of said mounting block and to cause said opening and closing of said clamping elements as said carriage member reaches the respective ends of said path of movement thereof.

M. Apparatus for removing a flaccid article as defined in claim 13 and further characterized in that said end portion of said projecting arm has an arcuate extent, the center of curvature of which lies along said straight portion of the projecting arm.

15. Apparatus for removing a flaccid article as defined in claim 14 and further characterized in that said abutment means includes a first stop element which initially contacts said projecting arm straight portion as said carriage member approaches said adjacent end of its path of movement to initiate pivoting of said mounting block, and which ultimately contacts said projecting arm end portion to cause further pivoting of said mounting block to said second position thereof and to cause said other clamping element to move against said biasing means until said clamping elements are opened, said first stop element also being located to maintain contact with said projecting arm end portion as said carriage member moves away from said adjacent end of its path of movement to prevent pivoting of said mounting block back to said first position thereof until said clamping elements are closed by movement of said other clamping element under the influence of said biasing means.

16. Apparatus for removing a flaccid article as defined in claim and further characterized in that the movement imparted to said clamping elements as a result of said contact between said projecting arm and said first stop element is in a generally arcuate path as said carriage member approaches said adjacent end of its path.

17. Apparatus for removing a flaccid article as defined in claim 16 and further characterized in that said abutment means includes a second stop element which initially contacts said projecting arm straight portion as said carriage member approaches said spaced end of its path of travel to initiate pivoting of said mounting block, and which ultimately contacts said projecting arm end portion to cause further pivoting of said mounting block until it reaches said third position thereof and to cause said other clamping element to move against said biasing means until said clamping elements are opened to release the article engaged thereby.

18. A method of removing a flaccid article such as a stocking or the like from a support surface comprising the steps of positioning said article on said support surface with an end portion of said article hanging from an edge of said support surface, initially positioning a pair of clamping elements on each side of and spaced from said depending article portion to present vertically disposed clamping surfaces thereat, closing said clamping elements to bring said clamping surfaces into clamping engagement with said hanging article portion, moving said clamping elements in a direction which causes said article to be pulled off said support surface, causing said clamping surfaces to move from said vertical disposition thereof to a disposition at which said article will fall from said clamping elements upon opening thereof, opening said clamping elements to release said stocking; and returning said clamping elements to said initial position thereof.

19. A method of removing a flaccid article as defined in claim 18 and further characterized in that said movement of said clamping elements to remove said article is in a generally horizontal direction with a speed of travel sufficient to maintain the lengthwise extent of said article in a generally horizontal plane as it is removed from said support surface and until said article is released 20. A method of removing a flaccid article as defined in claim 18 and further characterized in that said clamping surfaces are disposed at an inclination as said clamping elements are opened to release said article, said inclination being in a direction to cause the previously engaged portion of said article to slide from between said clamping surfaces.

21. A method of removing a flaccid article as defined in claim 19 and further characterized by the step of providing a receiver located directly beneath said path of horizontal movement of said clamping elements to accommodate said lengthwise extended article upon release thereof by said clamping elements. 

1. Apparatus for removing a flaccid article, such as a stocking or the like, from a support surface on which said article is positioned with a portion thereof hanging from an edge of said support surface, said apparatus including at least two cooperating clamping elements initially Disposed at an open position for receiving said hanging article in spaced relation therebetween, and operating means for said clamping elements acting sequentially to close said clamping elements for grasping said hanging article portion therebetween, to move said clamping elements in a direction which causes said article to be pulled off said support surface, to open said clamping elements for allowing said article to fall therefrom, and to return said clamping elements to said initial open position.
 2. Apparatus for removing a flaccid article as defined in claim 1 and further characterized in that said support surface has a horizontal extent, in that the major part of said article is positioned on said support surface for extension from said support surface edge, and in that said operating means acts to move said clamping elements in a substantially horizontal direction in pulling said article from said support surface.
 3. Apparatus for removing a flaccid article as defined in claim 2 and further characterized in that said article is a stocking extending lengthwise from said support surface edge, and said operating means acts to pull said stocking from said support surface in the lengthwise direction of said stocking.
 4. Apparatus for removing a flaccid article as defined in claim 2 and further characterized in that said clamping elements each include a generally flat clamping surface, in that said flat clamping surfaces are disposed vertically at said initial open position of said clamping elements, and in that said operating means acts to maintain said clamping surfaces at said vertical disposition during said closing of said clamping elements and to position said clamping surfaces at a generally horizontal disposition during said movement of said clamping elements in said generally horizontal direction.
 5. Apparatus for removing a flaccid article as defined in claim 2 and further characterized in that said clamping elements each include a generally flat clamping surface, in that said flat clamping surfaces are disposed vertically at said initial open position of said clamping elements, and in that said operating means acts to maintain said clamping surfaces at said vertical disposition during said closing of said clamping elements and to alter the position of said clamping surfaces to an inclined position during said opening of said clamping elements, the inclination of said clamping surfaces being in a direction to cause the previously engaged portion of said article to slide from between said open clamping elements.
 6. Apparatus for removing a flaccid article as defined in claim 2 and further characterized in that the speed of travel of said clamping elements moving in said generally horizontal direction is sufficient to maintain the lengthwise extent of said article in a generally horizontal plane as it is removed from said support surface and until said article is released.
 7. Apparatus for removing a flaccid article as defined in claim 6 and further characterized in that a receiver is located directly beneath the path of horizontal movement of said clamping elements, said receiver being dimensioned to accommodate said lengthwise extended article upon release thereof by said clamping elements.
 8. Apparatus for removing a flaccid article as defined in claim 1 and further characterized in that said operating means acts to cause said clamping elements to move in a generally arcuate path as they return to said initial position thereof.
 9. Apparatus for removing a flaccid article as defined in claim 1 and further characterized in that said support surface comprises a movable horizontally extending conveyor belt, in that a plurality of stockings are positioned in longitudinally spaced relation on said conveyor belt to extend transversely thereacross, each of said stockings having a corresponding portion thereof depending from a side edge of said conveyor belt in a common plane, and in that said apparatus includes a plurality of said cooperating claMping element pairs and associated operating means therefor longitudinally spaced along said side of said conveyor belt, each of said operating means being selectively operable to cause its associated pair of clamping elements to engage and remove selected stockings from said movable conveyor belt.
 10. Apparatus for removing a flaccid article as defined in claim 1 and further characterized in that said operating means includes a carriage member and means for reciprocating said carriage member to and from said support surface along a generally horizontal path of movement, in that said carriage member includes a mounting block having one of said clamping elements rigidly secured thereto and the other of said clamping elements connected thereto for movement to and from said one clamping element during said opening and closing of said clamping elements, in that biasing means are provided to act on said other clamping element to urge the same toward said one clamping element, and in that said operating means includes actuating means for moving said other clamping element against said biasing means to open said clamping elements as said carriage member reaches the respective ends of said path of movement thereof.
 11. Apparatus for removing a flaccid article as defined in claim 10 and further characterized in that said clamping elements each include a generally flat clamping surface, in that said mounting block is pivotally carried on said carriage member for movement about a pivot axis extending transverse to said carriage member path of movement, said mounting block having a normal first position at which said respective clamping surfaces are disposed horizontally, and in that said actuating means causes pivoting of said mounting block to a second position at which said clamping surfaces are disposed vertically when said carriage member reaches the end of said path of movement thereof adjacent said support surface.
 12. Apparatus for removing a flaccid article as defined in claim 11 and further characterized in that said actuating means causes pivoting of said mounting block from said first position thereof to a third position at which said respective clamping surfaces are disposed at an inclination when said carriage member reaches the end of said path of movement thereof spaced from said support surface, said inclination being in a direction to cause the previously held engaged portion of said stocking to slide from between the open clamping elements.
 13. Apparatus for removing a flaccid article as defined in claim 12 and further characterized in that said actuating means includes a projecting arm having a straight portion formed integrally with said other clamping element to extend upwardly from said mounting block in said first position thereof and having an end portion extending generally perpendicularly in opposite directions from said straight portion, and in that said actuating means includes abutment means located at the ends of said carriage member path of mounting movement for contacting said projecting arm to cause said pivoting of said mounting block and to cause said opening and closing of said clamping elements as said carriage member reaches the respective ends of said path of movement thereof.
 14. Apparatus for removing a flaccid article as defined in claim 13 and further characterized in that said end portion of said projecting arm has an arcuate extent, the center of curvature of which lies along said straight portion of the projecting arm.
 15. Apparatus for removing a flaccid article as defined in claim 14 and further characterized in that said abutment means includes a first stop element which initially contacts said projecting arm straight portion as said carriage member approaches said adjacent end of its path of movement to initiate pivoting of said mounting block, and which ultimately contacts said projecting arm end portion to cause further pivoting of said mounting block to said second position thereof and to cause said other clamping eLement to move against said biasing means until said clamping elements are opened, said first stop element also being located to maintain contact with said projecting arm end portion as said carriage member moves away from said adjacent end of its path of movement to prevent pivoting of said mounting block back to said first position thereof until said clamping elements are closed by movement of said other clamping element under the influence of said biasing means.
 16. Apparatus for removing a flaccid article as defined in claim 15 and further characterized in that the movement imparted to said clamping elements as a result of said contact between said projecting arm and said first stop element is in a generally arcuate path as said carriage member approaches said adjacent end of its path.
 17. Apparatus for removing a flaccid article as defined in claim 16 and further characterized in that said abutment means includes a second stop element which initially contacts said projecting arm straight portion as said carriage member approaches said spaced end of its path of travel to initiate pivoting of said mounting block, and which ultimately contacts said projecting arm end portion to cause further pivoting of said mounting block until it reaches said third position thereof and to cause said other clamping element to move against said biasing means until said clamping elements are opened to release the article engaged thereby.
 18. A method of removing a flaccid article such as a stocking or the like from a support surface comprising the steps of positioning said article on said support surface with an end portion of said article hanging from an edge of said support surface, initially positioning a pair of clamping elements on each side of and spaced from said depending article portion to present vertically disposed clamping surfaces thereat, closing said clamping elements to bring said clamping surfaces into clamping engagement with said hanging article portion, moving said clamping elements in a direction which causes said article to be pulled off said support surface, causing said clamping surfaces to move from said vertical disposition thereof to a disposition at which said article will fall from said clamping elements upon opening thereof, opening said clamping elements to release said stocking; and returning said clamping elements to said initial position thereof.
 19. A method of removing a flaccid article as defined in claim 18 and further characterized in that said movement of said clamping elements to remove said article is in a generally horizontal direction with a speed of travel sufficient to maintain the lengthwise extent of said article in a generally horizontal plane as it is removed from said support surface and until said article is released
 20. A method of removing a flaccid article as defined in claim 18 and further characterized in that said clamping surfaces are disposed at an inclination as said clamping elements are opened to release said article, said inclination being in a direction to cause the previously engaged portion of said article to slide from between said clamping surfaces.
 21. A method of removing a flaccid article as defined in claim 19 and further characterized by the step of providing a receiver located directly beneath said path of horizontal movement of said clamping elements to accommodate said lengthwise extended article upon release thereof by said clamping elements. 